Spout mechanism for filling machines



y 4, 1953 P. R. FECHHEIMER 2,645,247

SPOUT MECHANISM FOR FILLINQMACHINES 3 SheetsSh eet 1 Filed Dec. 31, 1947IN V EN TOR. flu; fie/#1514155 Afro an e vs.

dllewq 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS- July 14, 1953 P. R. FECHHEIMER ISPOUT MECHANISM FOR FILLING MACHINES Filed Dec. :51, 1947 a 5 w 2, 155W.2 N am w 1 1 m w a c a, 5 7. g. x I E J 4 0 14 i 1 4 2 an a a. Y Y flfi8 vMB Hon 2 q n L .w H s 2 z 2 xx 44 a July 14, 1953 P. R. FECHHEIMERSPOUT MECHANISM FOR FILLING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 31,1947 Patented July 14, 1 953 Paul R. Fechheimer, Cincinnati, Ohio,assignor to The Karl Kiefer Machine Company, Cincinnati,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December 31, 1947, Serial No.795,113

My invention relates to machines for filling containers, such as cans,bottles, collapsible tubes and the like; and it is my object to providea machine capable of handlingproducts ranging from thin liquids with lowsurface tension to heavy, viscous pastes. The present invention relatesprimarily to filling spouts or nozzles, and in particular to spouts ornozzles which have positive cut-off mechanisms.

It will be understood that different types of spouts or nozzles arerequired for the handling of different filling materiaL'and one of theobjects of the invention is to provide a spout or nozzle constructioncapable of being rapidly, conveniently and inexpensively altered for thefilling of different types of products.

In this connection it is my object to provide a spout or nozzlemechanism in which the main and most expensive parts are standardizedand need not be replaced or altered, but in which the changes requiredfor different types of products, or for different sizes and shapes ofcontainers, are largely, if not entirely, restricted to those specificparts having to do with operations or treatments specific to thedifferent kinds of materials.

It is an object of my invention to provide a spout or nozzleconstruction in which operating parts for the positive, mechanicalactuation of valve and cut-off devices are standardized in whole or inlarge part, and are capable of use with different kinds of cut-01fdevices requiring mechanical actuation.

It is a further object of the invention to pro:

vide a type of spout or nozzle construction having the advantages setforth above and capable of use in different types of filling operations,such as those in which the actual orifice of the spout must be keptimmersed in the liquid beshall now describe an exemplary embodiment, I

which is a type of spout or nozzle, and associated parts, suitable foruse in the various types 7 Claims. (01. 137-447) of filling operationsand for the filling-of the various types .of materials to whichreference has been made. Attention is now called tothe accompanyingdrawings:

. Figure 1 is an elevational view of a type of filling' machine uponwhich the nozzle or spout structures of this invention may be employed.

Figure 2 is a partial plan view with elements in section, taken alongthe line 22 of Figure 1. Figure:3 is a, perspective view of an assembledspout construction with appurtenances designed.

for handling liquid products or for handling Y the fillingof heavy orviscous materials, pastes,

or materials having, a strong tendency to string.

Figurefi is an explodedperspective view of the same apparatus as that,shown in Figure 5.

Figure '7 is a front elevation of the same apparatuswithparts insection, showing the cutoff gates closed, and taken along the sectionline of Fig. 5.

Figure 8 is a partial sectional view taken alongthe line 88 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is an elevational view similar to that of Figure '7 but showingtherelationship of parts when the cut-off gates are open.

Figure 10 is a front elevational view of a spout or nozzle mechanismdesigned for filling verythin liquids, especially where it is desirablenot to have any flaring of the liquid stream as it leaves the spout.

Figure 11 is a top plan view of the same apparatus.v

Figure 12 is a vertical section through the same apparatus taken alongthe section line filed July 3, 1946, nowrPatent No. 2,600,982. and

entitled Control and Cut-Off Mechanism for Filling: Machines. Themachine itself is analogous to that set; forth in my issued patent No.2,184,117. The machine of Figure l is characterized by a rotating tablefor, the containers to be filled, above which there is a stationary headi and a rotary head 3 upon which the nozzles or spouts are mounted.Thelower table is provided with means for raising and lowering thecontainers with relation to the spouts, as will be understood in theart. The stationary and rotating heads I and 3 are provided withco-operating ports which act also as valves. The spouts or nozzles movewith the containers being filled; and the machine is one designed tofill several containers simultaneously with different increments of thesame or difierent materials.

The filling spout or nozzle mechanisms to which this invention relatesare mounted upon the movable head 3. Referring to Figures 3 and 4, eachsuch mechanism comprises a body 4 having a base 5 for attachment to afiat surface of the filling head. The base and body, as most clearlyshown in Figure 4 are hollow within, and the base orifice willcommunicate with an orifice in the filling head so that filling materialissuing therefrom will be directed into and through the body 4. The base5 may be provided with pins 6 which, entering holes in the filling head3, will serve to locate the bodies thereon. Gaskets (not shown) may belocated between the several bases 5 and the corresponding flat surfacesof the filling head 3; and the several bodies may be held to the fillinghead by bracket members 9 (Figure 2) engaging the bases of adjacentbodies, and held'to the head by means of wing bolts Ill. The machinealso.

has a stationary cam member II shown in Figure 2 and so located as toactuate the mechanism which moves the cut-off devices of my spouts.

The body elements 4 shown in Figures 3 and 4 are the same for all typesof filling nozzles herein disclosed. The lower ends of these bodies arethreaded as at I3. At their upper ends the bodies have threaded recessesI4 communicating with their hollow interiors by means of a hole orpassageway I5.

The bodies bear integrally at their front sides a pair of spaced bracketmembers I6 and H which are perforated so as to provide a sliding bearingfor a vertical shaft or rod I8.

The bodies also bear, adjacent their front sides, a pair of laterallyextending bracket members I9 and 20, as perhaps most clearly shown inFigure 9. These bracket members are employed for mounting a pair ofhorizontal shaft members 2I and 22.

There is a threaded collar member 23 for each head, engaging thethreaded bottom portion I3 thereof.

In the form of structure illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 the nozzleproper is an elongated tubular element 24. This is provided with anupper flange portion 25 so that it may be held to the body 4 by thecollar 23.

The nozzle element 24 is designed to be closed on its lower end by aconical valve element 26. This, when drawn'upwardly against the open endof the element 24, will cut off any flow of filling material therefrom.The valve element 26 is mounted upon a vertically extending rod 21 whichpasses upwardly within the element 24, through the body 4 and above thebody through the hole I5. A perforated disc element 28 serves as a guidefor the stem or rod 21 in the nozzle element 24 but does not interruptthe passage of the filling material.

At the top of the body I provide a threaded plug 29 containing a gasketor sealing member 30 through which the rod '21 passes. Since the sealingmember 30 has its flange portion turned downwardly so as to resistinternal pressure in 4 the body 4, the end of the rod 2! is preferablytapered, as shown, to facilitate assembly.

The vertical rod l8 carries on its upper end a downwardly extending arm3I terminating in a bifurcated portion 32 which has a horizontalperforation. The end of the rod 21 extending up through the bifurcatedmember may be pinned open and close the valve 26.

The rod I8 is provided, between the bracket members I6 and IT, with ablock element 34 pinned or otherwise fastened to it. A coiledcompression spring 35 surrounds the rod I8 and engages between the upperbracket I6 and the arm 3| on the rod. This tends to maintain the rod I8inthe highest or uppermost position permitted by the engagement of theblock 34 with the underside of the bracket I6. The parts are so adjustedthat this uppermost position of the rod I8 is one which will close thevalve 26.

A bell crank element having a hub 35 and arms 31 and 38 is mounted uponthe shaft 2I. A second bell crank element 39 is mounted upon the shaft22. This second bell crank element has slotted arms, one of which isengaged by a pin 40 in the arm 3! of the first mentioned bell crank andthe other of which engages a pin 4| extending forwardly from the block34. This relationship of parts is most clearly shown in Figures '7 and9. The arm 38 of the first mentioned bell crank is provided with a camfollowing roller 42 which is actuated by the cam II (Figure 2). It willbe evident that as the cam II moves the arm 36 of the first bell crankupwardly, the second bell crank will move the rod I8 downwardly againstthe compression of the spring 35, thus opening the valve 26.

The nozzle elements 24 may be made of lengths and external diametersappropriate for the filling of different sizes and shapes of containers,and containers of different depths. Nozzle members 24 and theirappropriate valve members 26 and valve rods 21 may readily beinterchanged in my apparatus, with no further manipulations than theinstallation of the nozzle and valve elements by means of the collars23, and the engagement of their respective valve rods 21 with the arm 3Iby means of the pin 33. Such changes are readily accomplished; and itwill be seen that I have provided an apparatus in which such changes donot require the dismounting and interchange of entire spout mechanisms.

In Figures 5 to 9 inclusive I have illustrated a spout assembly designedparticularly for the filling of heavy, viscous or stringy materials.Like parts have been given like index numerals, and the appearance ofindex numerals heretofore employed and described will indicate thatthese parts remain in the assembly. The specific nozzle element, in thisinstance is different, comprising a tubular element 43 of generallylarger diameter, provided at its upper end with a collar or threadedelement 44 for direct engagement with the threaded end I3 of the body 4.The lower end of the tube 43 is cut on two intersecting slantwise linesas will be evident from Figures 7 and 9; and the cut-off or valvemechanism comprises a pair of gate elements 45 and 46, adapted to'cometogether in the closed position shown in Figure 7 across the end of thetube, and which act not only to cut off flow of material therefrom butalso to pinch off any filling material which has formed a string betweenthe nozzle element and the body of such filling material in thecontainer.

The gate elements 45 and 46 are connected by links 41 and 48 to the endsof a horizontal bar 49. A block 50 which may be readily attached to areduced and perforated end of the vertical rod I8 by means of a pin 5|,is also attached centrally to the horizontal bar 49 by a pin 52-having aloose connection with the bar. The block 50 carries a horizontal ledgeelement 53. The "gate elements 45 and 46 are pivoted to rods or otherabutments attached to the nozzle element 43 at positions shown at 54and-55 in Figures 7 and 9.

As before, when the cam element l l moves the arm 38 of the first bellcrank upwardly, the second bell crank moves the rod l8- downwardly. Theledge 53 on the block 50 engages the upper edge of the horizontal bar49, moving this bar downwardly, and opens the gate elements 45 and 45 aswill be clear from Figure 9. The horizontal bar, engaged by the ledgeand bodily moved by it insures that the gates 45 and 46 open equally andsufficiently to clear the stream of filling material. When the headbearing the spout or nozzle mechanism passes beyond the cam II, thesprin 35 raises the rod l8. When this happens, the pin 52 pulls upwardlyon the horizontal bar 49. By reason of the clearance betweenpin 52 andhorizontal bar 49, as the rod I 8 rises the ledge 53 moves away from thebar 49 until the pin 52 contacts the top of the hole through the bar.Thus the pin 52 can act as a pivot for the bar and the bar will be freeto tilt. Continued upward motion of the rod l8 causes the gates 45 and46 to close, and the horizontal bar 49, fulcrumed n the pin 52, becomesan equalizer so that both gates 45 and 46 will come to rest against thebeveled end of the'tube.

Since no vertical-rod extending through the body 4 is employed, I removethe plug 29 and replace it with a solid plug 56 to close the upper endof the body. The arm 3| is present but unused in this embodiment of mynozzle structure.

The manner in which the structure shown in Figures 3 and 4 can bechanged over into the structure shown in Figures to 9 inclusive will beclear from the foregoing description.

In Figures to 13 inclusive, I have illustrated yet another type of spoutassembly. Like parts are again indicated by like index numerals, showingthat these parts are common to all forms herein described. In this thirdembodiment a nozzle element 51 is provided. This element has at itslower end a valve seat 58 having a downwardly tapering perforation. Thevalve 59 is correspondingly shaped, and is carried by a valve rod 66.This valve rod extends through the seal.. ing plug 29 hereinabovedescribed, and is pinned to the arm 3|. But it will be observed that thevalve in this form is opened by an upward movement of the rod 60 andhence of the rod l6, which is opposite to the mode of operationdescribed for the embodiment ofFigures 3 and 4. The valve rod 66 isagain guided in the nozzle element 57 by a perforated disc 6|.

To attain this opposite mode of motion, Iremove the first mentioned bellcrank comprising the hub 36 and arms 3'! and 38. The second bell crank39 is also removed, and in its place there is positioned on shaft 22 athird bell crank having an arm 62 carrying a cam following roller 63bearing on the cam II, and having another arm 64 which is slotted andwhich engages the pin 4| in the block 34. It will be evident from thearrangement of arms illustrated in Figures 10, 1'1 and 12, that as thecam II moves the cam follower 63 upwardly, the last mentioned bell crankdevice will move the rod l8 upwardly, thereby opening the valve. Thebell crank 62, 64 is provided with a rearward extension 65 which isconnected by a tension spring 66 to the shaft 21 from which the firstmentioned bell crank was removed. The function of this spring is to movethe rod [8 downwardly, thereby closing the valve '58, 59 when the camelement II is not engaging the cam follower 63. While the spring 35 hasnot been illustrated in Figures 10 to 13 inclusive, it need not beremoved. Allqthat is necessary is to employ a tension spring 66 ofsufliciently greater power to overcome the action of the spring 35.

The nozzle structure illustrated in Figures 10 to 13 is one particularlydesigned for the 1111- 1 ing of thin li'quidswith low surface tension.The downwardly tapering valve seat 58 tends to prevent ilaringof theliquid stream as it leaves the nozzle; "The nozzle element of thisembodiment may be set closer to the mouth of the container being filled,and can be employed for filling containers with restricted openingsbecause of the confining and narrowing of the stream. However the nozzleelements 51 may be made as long as desired, and the structure of Figures10 to 13 inclusive is one which also may be used for bottom-up fillingas can the spout of Figures 3 and 4. In such an operation, the tubularportion ofthe nozzle is extended so that it can be inserted through theneck opening of the container when the container is raised. The fillingoperation is then begun, and the container is lowered in synohronisintherewith so that the tip of the nozzle can be kept immersed inthefilling material in the container.

The removable pins which have been mentioned herein may have any appopriate shape, and are preferably provided with threaded portions forengagement in the elements they penetrate'so as to hold them inposition.

It will be, seen that I have provided a structure in which nozzleelements may readily be interchanged for different purposes, and whereinprovision is made for the mechanical actuation of various types ofcut-off or valve mechanisms requiring various modes of .motion.

' Modifications may be made in my invention without departing from thespirit of it. Having thus described my invention in certain exemplaryembodiments, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. A filling spout mechanism comprising a hollow body having a base witha perforation therein for attachment to a filling head, a pair ofvertically spaced apart bracket members extending outwardly from saidbody and perforated for slidably journaling a vertically disposed rod,an actuating rod journaled .in said brackets, a block on said actuatingrod located between said brackets,

"an additional bracket member extending laterally l to a filling head, apair of vertically spaced apart bracket members extending outwardly fromsaid body and perforated for slidably journaling a vertically disposedrod, an actuating rod journaled in said'brackets, a block on saidactuating rod located between said brackets, additional bracket membersextending laterally from said body and mounting horizontally disposedshafts,

bell crank elements mounted on said shafts, a

first of said bell crank elements having a cam follower on one armthereof, a connection between a second arm of said first bell crankelement and an arm of a second of said bell crank elements, and aconnection between said second bell crank element and said block, andspring means connected to said actuating rod for biasing it in onedirection.

3. A filling spout mechanism comprising a hollow body having aperforated base for attachment to a filling head, a pair of verticallyspaced apart bracket members extending outwardly from said body andperforated for slidably journaling a vertically disposed rod, anactuating rod journaled in said brackets, a block on said actuating rodlocated between said brackets, additional bracket members extendinglaterally from said body and mounting horizontally disposed shafts, abell crank element mounted on one of said shafts, said bell crankelement having a first arm carrying a cam follower, a second armoperatively connected to said block, and a third arm connected by atension spring to the other of said shafts.

4. A filling spout mechanism comprising a hollow body having a base witha perforation therein for attachment to a filling head, a pair ofvertically spaced apart bracket members extending outwardly from saidbody and perforated for slidably journaling a vertically disposed rod,an actuating rod journaled in said brackets, a block on said actuatingrod located between said brackets, two additional bracket membersextending laterally from said body mounting horizontally disposedshafts, bell crank elements mounted on said shafts, one of said bellcrank elements including an arm bearing a cam follower, a connectionbetween said last mentioned bell crank element and the other of saidbell crank elements, and a connection between the other of said bellcrank elements and said block, an arm mounted on the upper end of saidactuating rod extending to a position above the top of said hollow body,a compression spring surrounding said rod and engaged between said armand the uppermost of said first mentioned pair of bracket members, thetop of said body having a perforation therein a nozzle element securedto the lower end of said hollow body, said nozzle element including avalve rod extending upwardly through said hollow body and saidperforation, the upper end of said valve rod, being secured to the endof said arm extending above said hollow body.

5. A filling spout mechanism comprising a hollow body having a base witha perforation therein for attachment to a filling head, a pair ofvertically spaced apart bracket members extending outwardly from saidbody and perforated for slidably journaling a vertically disposed rod,an actuating rod journaled in said brackets, a block on said actuatingrod located between said brackets, additional bracket members extendinglaterally from said body and mounting horizonl tally disposed shafts,bell crank elements mounted on said shafts, a first of said bell crankelements including an arm bearing a cam follower, a connection betweensaid first bell crank element and a second of said bell crank elements,and a connection between said second bell crank element and said block,a compression spring surrounding said actuating rod and extendingbetween the uppermost of :aid first mentioned pair of bracket membersand a fitting secured to the top of said vertical rod, a nozzle elementattached to the lower end of said hollow body, said nozzle elementhaving external gates closable across the end thereof, links connectingsaid gates to a bar, and a connection between the lower end of the saidactuating rod and said bar.

6. A filling spout mechanism comprising a hollow body having aperforated base for attachment to a filling head, a pair of verticallyspaced apart bracket members extending outwardly from said body andperforated for slidably journaling a vertically disposed rod, anactuating rod journaled in said brackets, a block on said actuatingrodlocated between said brackets, additional bracket members extendinglaterally from said body and mounting horizontally disposed shafts, bellcrank elements mounted on said shafts, a first of said bell crankelements including an armbearing a cam follower, a connection betweensaid first bell crank elements and a second of said bell crank elements,and a connection between said second bell crank element and said block,a compression spring surrounding said actuating rod and extendingbetween the uppermost of said first mentioned pair of bracket membersand a fitting secured to the top of said actuating rod, and a nozzleelement secured to the lower end of said hollow body, said nozzleelement having a beveled lower end, a pair of gate members for closingthe end of said nozzle element by coming together across the beveledportion thereof, said gate members being respectively pivoted at bothsides of said nozzle element, a horizontal bar connected at its ends bylinks respectively to said gate members, a second block on the lower endof said actuating rod, said second block including a ledge elementcontacting said horizontal bar, and a loose pivotal connection betweenthe mid-point of said horizontal bar and said second block.

7. A nozzle element comprising a body having a beveled lower end, a pairof gate members for closing the lower end of said body by comingtogether across the beveled portion thereof, said gate members beingrespectively pivoted at both sides of said body, a horizontal barconnected at its ends by links respectively to said gate members, andmeans for effecting a loose pivotal connection between said bar and theactuating rod of a filling spout mechanism with which said nozzle isassociated.

PAUL R. FECHHEIMER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,677,102 Taussig July 10, 1928 1,705,138 Rich Mar. 12, 19292,114,900 Gilchrist Apr. 19, 1938 2,185,201 Kraus Jan. 2, 1940 2,340,536Joplin Feb. 1, 1944

